Fountain pen



Nov. 11, 1930.

W. C. FORD FOUNTAIN PEN Filed Sept. 17. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l myf- INVENTOR.

Nov. 11,1930. W C FORD 1,781,504

FOUNTAINV PEN Filed Sept. 17, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY.f

i Q in the barrel but having its head normally Patented Nov. 11, 1930 er narrar f orifice WILLIAM o. Form, oF ANDOVER, MessACHUsETfrs FOUNTAIN PEN lAppiicamiieaseptember 17, rees. serial No. 306,415.

This invention relates to fountain pens of or more pressure control members will be in the type having a hollow barrel which conconvenient position for the fingers and thumb tains an ink reservoir usually a compressible of the user to operate.` u y rubber bulb, the outlet of which connects l may also provide means either in the barg with` and is adaptedto feed a pen point carrel or the cap to normally limit the `movet. riedat one end'of the barrel. y ments of the pressure control members and now made, such pens usually have a cap `other `means by which they can be released which protects the point while it isbeing carso that it or they can be movedsuiiiciently to` ried in the pocket butwhich is removed `and fully operate the bulb compressor for filling it laced `on the opposite` end when writingl the pen. u u to uch pens also usually have some device on I prefer to arrange my devices so that by` the side in the form offra lever by which the moving my pressure eontrolmember or membulb can be compressed or released when it is bers slifrhtly, a drop. of ink only will be forced y desired to fillJ the pen. f u out,bnt by movingthem a greater distance, 15' IIt "s well k 4 own that as such pens are and then releasing them7 the pen can be filled. G5

v usually carried with-the point up, when one r The'opening for the compressor `operating is. taken out of the pocket and the cap. remember may be in the roundsurface or the moved'for writing,` `the ink. does not flow end surface of the barrel. freely into the pen point and it isnecessary In the drawings, Fig. l is a view of my 2G to Ashake the pen,`the result often` being that preferred construction Awith the cap on the 70 aiglr'np.ofinlr` falls out on the floor or` atable. pen end andas the `pen appearsfattached to a The purpose of thisinvention is to provide pocket. u u a `p'enwhich `can be taken `out ofthe pocket Fig. 2 is anenlarged view in section with and the cap removed from the pen end and the cap on the butt end, and the pressure 25 placed Onth@V .Other end after which Abye control member in operative position..

simpleandlntural mOVH1IlU0fth`I1gTS Fien". 3 a similar sectional View showing orlthumb, thebulb can be slightly GOIIlprGSSQCl a sl' nt modification of the contactlend ofthe `forcing a drop of inklout on to the pen withtr nitting member.

out the necessityof..shaking.`

u y y n hig. l a detail showingaV guiding device.

30. It SDBCBSSLly hWVGl' that the Connection Fig. 5 is. a view similar to Fig..2 showing 80 betweenthe'pressing device carried by the n. modiiied construction. y

cap and the end of'` thel penShOllldbe Such Fi shows another modiication. that when the cap is on the pen end, tWll Fig. 6A `is avertical sectional detail of` a bellsllbstlltally impossible for thejbulb to be. fiery-much simplified construction. y y

f accidentally compressed` thus-inadvertently llig; GBfisia plan View ofthe construction 85 forcing Outtheink. l l shownin Eigen.

, I acmrlsh this purpose by pwvldn inf rig. eo is a Side elevation of Fig. 6B.

Sldeithe bar'elv @Compressor for the. ulb t Fig;` 7 shows a detail of another type of and. an operating member. therefor movable compressing device u y l A Fig. 8 shows a pen` of a; modified construe-` tion as it is held in one hand in the process of filling the pen.

l `I than provide au .Capaldapted t t eth Fig. 9-is a viewsimilar to Fig. 8 showing positioned inside the surface ofthe barrel so that .it` cannot accidentally bemoved to operate the. compressor.

- 45' endof Vthe.burelsolarranged that there is OHQPSOD fithe hand When Star-ting a 95` '501 the compressor operating' member and one ".Fig. llis a vertical section at'rght angles nothing to interfere with the pen end of the dTOlQ 0f ml? Wh@ begmnmg 'CQ Wfltedevioeenterngthe cap. butso that. whenit is` lFig` 10i-1S a fjetlgnal elevation of the type onfltlfie` other` end, v.. tr-ansn'iitting means carof pen shown in llgsf` and 9 with the cap red bythe cap` will beinposition to engage onthe buttend.

oo u

l but when onthe other endv as shown 1n Fig.

-' 4 is preferably guided into position byfmeans y j end 'of which 91 is concave to receive the com-l Y to Fig. showing a bulb being compressed one end 60 the pen point B, the other end 61 being closed. As shown in F ig. 2, there is'in the surface at theside, an opening130vinto t which there projects but not through.l an Voperating member 133 for compressor ldlwhich'` is a strip of substantially .rigid metal l which;VY Y preferably conforms to the curve of the inside of the barrel L andbulb f Y The cap M when on the pen `end 60 may be in any position around'the circumference of the .V-shaped'slot 138 in its end'137 .toget her with a pin139 which projects from the barrel L. g 'j l N'represents a combination.ctieJ pressure control member Kind transmitting'meanfn` loe-l ing anelastic strip of metal` Xed at 134v to 'cap M kand of suiicient lengthfinE the 'shank 135 so that it extendsbeyond the open end 65 of cap -M. It terminates in a neck r132et y"by-thejdotted lines in Fig.v2,"when it lwill ,force inward the operating member 133 of the right anglesfand in a ball 136,;` l

' As Ishown inFig. 1, when/the cap is onthe penend, the partN canbe used as e clip to pass over the edge 64' of Cloth P ofthe pocketS y l Y v fr ing means consisting of theftwoispringlegs l/Vhenfhoweyer it'ison the :buttend 610i?.V barrel L, it is guided to the proper position by pin 139,so. that the ball 136 willjregister with opening 130 but will not enter that'open# and will hold the penjinA position.V

ing unless pressed in by the lingers, as shown compressor 131thereby` squeezing theibulb C asmuchor as'little asdesired. Therebya vsingle drop of ink can be forced out or the bulb can be compressed'and the pen ca ifn'be.

filledV when pressurel is removed.

. Fig.V 3 shows a slight modification wherein the transmitting member 145 is bent down atV 146 to forniA a' Contact member to enteran drop only will be squeezed out, or the slot 148,v

opening 130,7in place of the ball.

.147 is acontrolling ring having ajcutawey per't148.` The ring V147 can beimoved raround lso as to limit the movementof 146 so that a can be brought in position-so'that Ve. greater squeeze can be made..V f

as 248 shown in Fig.2cenv bev used; This can be slid along to completely'cover'opening l13,0

idesired: Y

lever 231 pivoted on the side oftheV pen. Y In this device',iI.use a'plun'ger 120,V slidaible inside barrel A, whieh is ordinarily in con- Q tact with the ofbulb whichservesthe Vbythetransmitting members, and the end 91 p assumes the form shown by thedottedlines 'causing the ink to flow when' startingr to write 1"04}a.nd 1'05`which ere joined?togetherV by a ring'lpOSwhich slipsover springlegs 100 and Y lOl 'theparts being so formedfthatwhen 103'V` .'lspushedin,r ring 106 'forces legs100 and 101vr turning spring for the plunger.

resentsthe'inside of.the"barrel*end ltranin-Y Y purpose of e returning spring whereby it is kept normally just a little inside of the end 110. l Inthe cap G is slidable a piston 121 from Vwhich extend the legs 124 and' 125 of such 7o the dotted line. This push button type as `shown is adapted only `for starting but by in# i creasing thedistancefrom 123 to 122 can be 80j used also for lilling.-

In Figi 6, I show a. bulb or reservoir the presser, or compressing member 92 which is Y lixed'to plunger93 theY head of which 94 is 85 normallyfa short distance fromfthe outside of the chemfered end Vofbarrel A and from the ends vof the Atrensrnittings, members.

124, 125;y lCompressor 92 is forced inward Y or to 'j compressthe Vbulb inthe 'process'.of till-I In Fig'. 7 I showvanothertypeof compress- 'The plunger 103 is positioned alittle inside:

of therend 110 of barrel A and has two legs together thus squeezing bulb 107 is are-'i i i in rigs. sito i2 I Show a pushibtffbtyi' Airepresents' the "tubular barrelof a' foun tain penfwlich 'carries atfoneI-end 10 the pen j r point teminatesetllet the other end, Y. .there beingan annular recess 12 at'this end,"

which might. be celled thefbutt end. v13 rep#i side stop' for plunger springz32while V14"rep"f `resents.an outside stop 'to limit the movement s r 1 sweeps:

'- It desired, aslidingfprotecting ringsuch C represents e compressible bulb, the; neck otwhi'ch feeds pen'pointy Bend which can be' compressed bythe compressor D;

VVThis ,compressor ina'yjbe of'vario' Y such Ves shownin:the'otherfyiews but vit desirable` if not necessary that it should be ble.t of compressing :the i bulb when'Y the end an elastic por 'bendaible strip-120fot 'metal' f bereich es? '.s-mer'edf 'from' the britt; v c' rel A and a little beyondtheiannular recess 112 `which serves to limit the movementot push `button H in a mannertobe described. End ,ll preferably is chamfered inside.

31 is astem extending from head 30 of plunger' F in `normal engagement with the sloping part 21 of strip 120, The limits of Vmovement of plunger F are determined by` a slot such as 36 into which enters a Wlifich `passes through barrel A.

The cap Gis of a size sof that it is` adapted to fit either end ot the barrel, its inside diameter' 41being of` substantially the same size the outside 17 of barrel A. i `Its position onfthe butt end is regulated by pin 16 y its'imcl` 44 engaging the stop 14 on'barrel A.

On opposite sides are the holes 42, 42, through which pass the release buttons 49, 49 adapted to allow the push button H tomove a greater distance than ordinarily This push `buttonH ispreferably hollow and'` has closed ende() which projects out `trom the .end 40 of cap Gr.

Betweenits other end "54 and the release buttons 49 islak light compression spring 55 `-wliichheeps the end 50 ordinarily projecting "frontend 40.!`

52.52 are whatv I will call transmitting `members which arestrips ofspring metal fastenedat 53 oppositely on the insideof push button H and extendingfdown to the bent ends 516", which areot such length that ordinarily they both engage the end 33 of head 30 ata point a slight distance away from the limiting*annularsstop`12.

i When first using the pento write asshown in Fig; 9',it is heldin the four fmgers12, 3; 4

and 5 `while the thumb l`presses on button-IH moving it in the distance between 56 and 12 thus compressing the bulb C slightly and forcing` out a drop of ink When however itis desired to till the penj it can be held with the fingers 3, 41and' 5 and the thumb l, the thumband finger 3 pressing in on release buttons 49, 49 so that the finger 2 can press the push button H in and as the transmitting means or legs 52, 52 are moved inside stop 12 as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 10, they7 together with plunger F Withits stem 31 can move a greater distance thus compressing bulb C a larger amount when it is desired to till the pen.

As shown in Fig. 12 the cap Gr can be put on the opposite end of the pen and its construction is such that it will` not interfere with the point B. Y i

y In the construction shown in Figs. 8, 9, l0,

`11, 12,1) is the compressor, `F and its accessories is the operatingmember, 11 isthe opening therefor, Gr thecap, H the pressure `control member `while 521, 52, 49, 49 comprise the transmitting means;

` lin Figs. 6A, 6B and 6C`I show7 a very much simplified device whichcan be usedif desi-red; ,i i

The bulb C is of the same type `as shownin Figs. 2, 3 and 5 and the barrel Lis of `the 75 `usual type with a compressor openingy`330 similar to 130 and performing the samefunction as 11 the compressor `33l`being positioned in line with hole 330 and is shown coming close to its inside'.` When cap M is on the endof the barrel which isoppositethe pen point the guide opening 340 `for the transmitting member 341 registers with"compressorj opening 330. y

This transmittingmember `isshown as a shank 341 slidablein guideopening 342 forming an outlet for 340 .and member 341 terminates inthe conical head" 343 the parts being of such size and position that the whole of 343 can be housed in guide opbning 340 as shown by the dotted lines when the pressure controlmember 344 `shown as a pushl button head is moved out to the dotted line position. With this constructionit is not necessary to have anyreturningf spring as the member 344 can move in and out looselywhen the cap M is on the pen end and when it is positioned on the other end of the barrel, the conical surface of the part 343` causes thepart to move out so thatcap M can be slipped on without difficulty. When the openings 340 and 330 register however, the pressure'icontrol member 344 can bepres'sed in more orlfess transmitting the pressurethrough members 341 and 343 to the compressor 331, which has no head,`and thence to bulbC. The natural elasticity of bulb @or the* springot compressor 331 will bring thcparts back in place when released. he device shown inAF ig. 6A reduces the number of opera-ting parts totheminimum. Member 344 can be positioned near the disc shaped end 346`com1non`onsuchcaps asM or it can `be positioned in `an extension thereof 345as shown inFigsB `and 6C.

`As shown in Fig. GC" this construction has the advantage that theV part 343 is exposed and that `cap M can be put on barrel L by starting it atan angle" and then straighten` ing it out as shown by the dotted lines.

Iclaimff y' 1. The combinationu with affountain pen having abarrel which contains a compressible bulb adapted to feed apen point carried at one end of thebarrelf; of a compressor po-` sitioned inside thebarrelfand adapted to compress the bulb ,fan operatingfmembenfor the compressor movable, in" opening` in the side of thebarrel and` havingits Vheadnormally positioned inside the surface of the i3" barrel, said member [being in' engagement With the compressor; a cap adapted toritf either end rof thebarrel; a pressure control member and transmitting 4member consisting of an elastic shank fixed to theoutside ofthe cap and extending` beyond the open end of- 2. The combination` With a fountain pen.

`having a barrelwhich contains acompressible bulbadaptedto feed a pen point-carriedl at one end of the barrel of a compressor positioned inside the barrel and adapted to compress thebulb; an operating memberfor the compressor` movable inl anj opening-'in the side ofv therbarrelya capadaptedto fit either fend ofthe barrel; a pressure control member and transmitting member consisting*l of an' elastic shank fixed to the outsideV ofthe cap and extending beyond the open end of the cap Y V.in position to register With .the opening in the side of the barrel `When the cap is onythat end of the barrell which is opposite thevpen' 35' The Combination" with y a fountain; pen having a barrel which contains a'compressible Vbulb adapted toy feed apen point. carried at one end ofythe barrel;- of a compressor positioned inside thebarrel and.Y adapted to com;-` vpress the bulb'; an operating member for the 4compressorfmovable in'. an` opening in the barrel and having its head normally positioned'nsidethesurface of the barrel, said member being in engagement With the compressor; a cap adapted to fit" either end-of the barrel ';...a, pressure .control Amember carried bythe cap; and transmitting-means'movable 40.

bythe pressure ,control member j adapted to Y ,engage the compressor operatingVV member When lfthe `.capv isl on that end of the barrel vvhichfiseopposite the pen point. g

`1.The combination with aj fountain-pen having afbarrel which contains a compressible bulb '1 adapted@ to.; feed. a pen .point 'carried at one endY of the barrel; `.of a compressor positioned insidethebarreland adaptedto com.- pressthel bulbgfan operating member for the compressor movable in anv opening inf the-bar-l rel; azcap adapted to fit either end of the barrel;.va `pressure control membercarried by J the cap; andtransmitting meansfmovableY by the pressurecontrollmember adapted to en- Vgage the compressoroperatingmemberivhen 4, o ithefcapis on that end of the barre which is Y f oppositethe Penrpotv The combinat'one-vvith a fountain'penl `having a barrel ,which containsfa. compressiblel reservoir adapted vto fee`dapen point carried atkone end ofthe k,barreljsaidv barrel y* having 'a,.compressorlopen1ng;stoffa compres- Y sor 'inside thefbarrell`l and `adapted to .com-

,press the. reservoirfsaid compressor :being Y l o Y, positionedlinr linezwlthgthe compressor open-V ,i i i 1 ing; a cap adaptedto it eitherendof the bar'- rel; a pressure control member carriedfby theV` cap and transmitting meansv movable by the pressure control-member and adapted to f one end' of the .barrel7 saidbarrel having a compressor'opening; of a compressor inside the barrel adapted to compress the bulb and positioned-in line With ysaidicompres'sor opening; a `capv adapted to it either end of the byV the cap ;-and a transmitting member car--.

Vried by the cap and connected-With the pressure control member in position to register with the compressor opening when the cap is onthatcnd of the barrel which is opposite the pen point. A"

vse barrelyapressure control member. carrie-d"- `7. :.Tliecombination With a fountain pen*` V having a'barr'el which contains acompressible bulb adapted tofeed ajpen poin'tfcarried at one'end Vof the barrel and having an'opemng al).l

in the Vsidesofrthe'barrel; :of a compressor adapted-to compresso-the bulb; a Vcap adapted positioned-inside the barreladjoining" the opening inthe barrelgsaid compressorrbeing f to fit eithery end ofthe barrel^,.-a"p"ressure con trol-1 member and v'tr'ansmitting member confsistingV of an elastic shank fixed to the outside'of the cap and extending beyond the open end of the cap and having al contact member' infposition to register with the `openingfin the v side of thebarrelwhen the capis opposite Y* pen point; and a'stop device adapted .tolimit the movement of the contact'member: Y

8o; The combination with a fountain "pen thatendqofthe barrel which is opposite'the l having albarrel with an opening in theside, y l

.which barrelAV contains a-Vcompressible bulb adapted toj feed pen :point carried at v'one end ofthe barrel; of a compressor positioned inside the barrel an'diadapted yto compress the ,bulb'g .a pressure controland transmitting member which' comprises a' contact member adjoining the opening in the side of the barp rel'and adaptedtopass through such opening and-engage the compressorfg-and a-stop device adapted vto ylimitrtheI movement. of' theY contact member y i WILLIAM CQ rom),v Y.' 12o 

